Mattila delivers powerful Kostelnička in Czech Phil’s Jenůfa

Let’s not pretend. Despite the photograph of Adriana Kohútková on the programme cover, the main draw of this concert performance of Janáček’s operaJenůfa was the appearance of Karita Mattila in the role of The Kostelnička Buryjovka. It wasn’t quite her role debut – that took place on Friday evening in Prague’s Rudolfinum – but it was an early look at a significant departure for the Finnish soprano, who was for years a leading exponent of Jenůfa herself. And who better to partner her in this venture than Jiří Bělohlávek, the Czech Philharmonic and an all-Czech cast?